Magnetic lock



Oct. 31, 1933- D. J, SLATTERY MAGNETI G LOCK Filed June 17, 1951 2Sheets-Sheet l lnuaniar 2 J5 HZEL z zfary D. J. SLATTERY MAGNETIC LOCKFiled June 17, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inf/511501" 1751212.. 15L ilk L ahPatented Oct. 31, 1933 UNlTED STATES- PATENT OFFICE};

MAGNETIC LOCK ham, Kelowna, Canada Application June 17, 1931, Serial No.544,953,

- in CanadaJune 1, 1931 and s Claims. (01; 70-50) This invention relatesto improvements in containers and combined gravity and magnetic lockingand unlockingmechanism therefor andthe object of the invention is toprovide an improved type of container and an improved form of gravityand magnetic, locking and unlocking mechanism therefor which will havewide application for a great variety of uses and which is of simple and,

inexpensive construction.

A further object is to provide a container of sheet metal constructionin which access thereto may be'controlled by a novel form of combinedgravity and magnetically actuated locking mechanism.

A further object is to provide with such a container, an audible alarmsignal wherebyan alarm will be sounded when the container is beingopened or should any unauthorized person insert a key thereto in anattempt to open-the container.

the following specification. v

The present invention is particularly applicable to containers fordomestic use in the col lection of milk tickets and to similar apparatussuch as slot machines, cash registers, rural mail boxes or practicallyany other form of container where one authorized person makes the roundof a number of such containers to remove the contents thereof and thepresent invention provides a simple, safe, reliable, and efficientcontainer of this type in which access thereto can only be by theauthorized party who is in possession of the proper magnetic keytherefor.

A. feature of the present invention resides in the provision whereby theopening of the con-- tainer is controlled bya magnetic key or magneticopening device, which must be accurately' positioned with respect to thecontainer in order to permit opening thereof. This is of importance inthat the container cannot be openedby any ordinaiy magnetic key as,unless the-key is of the proper form or unless it is properly adjustedand positioned with respect to the interior mechanism, it will notoperate to release the locking mechanism to permitpopening, whichfeature acts through the open lower end thereof, together with Otherobjects of the invention will appear in.

gravity controlled meansforlocking the drawer within the casing andmagnetically controlled means for rendering the gravity: locking meansinoperative to permit opening of the drawenall as hereinafter moreparticularly described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings inwhich:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of onev form in which the presentinvention may be'embodied, the container being shown in the-closedposition.

Figure '2 is a front elevation of Figure .1, aportion at the upper endofa casing, forming part of the container, being broken away to show theinterior construction and the locking mechanismi i i Figure 3 is a sideelevation of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrow, a portionthereof being broken away to show the. interior construction.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a magnetic key for use in opening theimproved container.

Figure 5 is a detached fragmentary view. of a portion of a key receivingchannel forming. a part of theimproved conainer as illustrated in-Figures-1, 2 and 3 with the positionofthe'key therein, shown in brokenlines and showing two insulated terminals and an electric alarmcircuitwhich may be used in connection with the improved container.

Figure 6 is. a front ,elevationylooking in the direction of (ht-3 arrowin Figure '7, of amodified form in which-the invention may be embodied,-a casing forming part thereof and a drawer slidably contained withinthis casing, being shown in section, the drawer and associated partsbeing shown in the locked position and a:magnetic unlocking device orkey for use therewith, being indicatedin broken lines.

Figure -7 is a vertical section taken on the line "l'? of Figure 6.

Figure'S is a sectional elevation of a casing and a magnetcontainedtherein, which. forms the magnetic unlocking device shown inbroken'lines in Figures 6 and 7, the magnet itself in Figure- 8, beingshown partly in elevation.

Figure!) is an edge elevation of the magnetic unlocking device shown inFigure 8, looking in the direction of the arrow. 7

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate correspondingparts in the different views.

Referring first tov the form of the invention illustrated in Figures 1to 5 inclusive, the, device comprises a fiat sheet metal body 10provided with nail or screw holes 11 and formed at its lower end with aforwardly bent flange 12.

Secured upon the front face of the body 10 is a rectangular sheet metalcasing 13, which is formed with an open bottom end 14 and in its sidewith a slot 15 covered by a pivoted strap 16.

Slidable vertically within the casing 13 is a drawer 17, this drawerbeing slidable outwardly or downwardly through the open bottom end 14 ofthe casing 13 and the flange 12 forming a stop against which the lowerend of the drawer abuts in its opening operation so as tolimit theopening movement thereof.

Carried at the upper end of the drawer is a hook or catch 18 formingpart of the locking mechanism as will be presently explained.

Pivotally mounted upon a pin 19 carried in lugs 20 at the upper end ofthe casing 13, is a wire latch 21, which comprises an upper arm 22 and alower arm 23, either the entire latch 21 or at least the upper arm 22thereof being of magnetic material, the purpose .of which will presentlyappear. I r Y Associated with the lower arm 23 of the latch 21 is a pin24 which forms a stop for limiting the downward oscillation of thelatch. The position of this latch 21, when fully lowered, isasillustrated in full lines inFigures2 and 3 and its position when fullyraised is as shown in broken lines in Figure 2.

Provided in the upper end of the casing 13 and at the point againstwhich the arm 22 of the latch 21 strikes when in its raised position isprovided a portion 25 of non-magnetic material such as zinc, copper oraluminum which will be presently referred to. Upon the upper end of thecasing 13 and exleriorly thereof, is provided an open ended channel 26,within which is provided a an upstanding rib 2'7, which rib terminatesabove the portion of non-magnetic material 25, adjacent to the point ofcontact between the upper arm 22 of the latch 21 and this material 25.

One side wall of the drawer 17 is provided with a slot 28 which isadapted to register with the slot 15 in the casing 13 when the drawer isin its closed position. Mounted within the channel 26 are two insulatedterminals 29 and 30, (see Fig. 5) which are connected in an electriccircuit 31 containing an alarm bell 32 and a battery 33.

For use in effecting the opening of the container, is a magnetic key 34having a right angle bend 35 at one end and a downwardly directedextremity 36 forming at the end of the key an offset portion. 5

The present invention may be applied in a wide number of ways, to suitdifferent uses thereof, including among others such adaptations as slotmachines, cash registers, rural mail-boxes,-and such like, and while theform illustrated and the 7 following description relate moreparticularly to i 's use as applied to a container for the collection ofmilk tickets, it is not intended that the invention be limited to thisspecific embodiment or this specific use but rather that this form beconsidered merely as illustrative.

The construction and operation of the improved container is as follows:-

Considering first the form shown in Figures 1 to 5 inclusive, the devicewould be mounted by securing it on the ou side of a house door frame bysuitable nails orfastenings inserted through the openings 11 in the base10, the device being mounted in a vertical position. I

Considering the partsv to be in the position shown in full lines inFigure 2, which corresponds to the closed or locked position of thedrawer, in which position the lower arm 23 of the latch 21 is engagedunder the hook or catch 18 carried at the upper end of the drawer 17, sothat by this engagement between this arm 23 and the catch 18, the draweris supported in its locked position and the lower end of the drawer isaccessible through the open bottom 1 1 of the casing. Further, in thisclosed position the slots 28 and 15 in the drawer 17 and casing 13,register with each other, which slots are covered by the flap 16 and byopening this flap either coins, milk tickets or any other suitablearticle to be collected may be inserted into the drawer 17. 1

Access to the lower closed end of the drawer 17, it will be observed,may be had through the open bottom end 14 of the casing and by insertingthe fingers upwardly into this open end 14, the drawer 1'7 may be pushedupwardly within the casing, in which upward movement it will be apparentthat the latch 21 will be oscillated upwardly, and the drawer may bepushed upwardly until the upper arm 22 of the latch 21 strikes againstthe upper end of the casing, at which point further upward movement ofthe drawer is prevented. This upward oscillation of the latch 21 is, ofcourse, caused by contact between the upper end of the drawer and thelower arm 23 of the latch.

Ordinarily it will also be apparent that the latch 21 is normally urgedby gravity into its lowermost position, shown in full lines in Figure 2,so that as the drawer is pushed upwardly, beyond this point, thusoscillating the latch upwardly, immediately the drawer is released andpermitted to descend, the latch will descend therewith and thus by theengagement between the lower arm 23 of the latch and the catch or hook18 of the drawer, the drawer' will be prevented. from downward movementbeyond the point shown in full lines in Figure 2, and in Figure 3 andthus be retained in closed position.

In order to permit openin of the drawer, the key 34 is inserted throughthe open end of the channel 26 and after insertion is drawn outwardlyagain until the hooked end 35 thereof strikes the inner end of the rib2'7 in which position further outward movement of the key is preventedand thus this rib 27 forms a means for accurately positioning the innerend of the mag netic key in a desired'position relative to the casing13, this desired position being that in which the offset end 36 of thekey is located directly above the non-magnetic material 25 and. directlyabove the point of contact of the upper end 22 of the latch 21 with thisnon-magnetic material. 25.

When the key 34 is in this position, if the drawer 1''? is pushedupwardly so that the upper arm 22 strikes against the upper end of thecasing 13, the magnetic attraction of the key for the upper arm 22retains the latch in this raised position so that when the drawer isreleased and permitted to descend the lower arm 23 of the latch is heldin its raised position, as shown in broken lines in Figure 2, in whichposition it is clear of the hook or catch 18 carried at theupper end ofthe drawer and thus this hook may move freely past the lower arm 23which thus fails to engage therewith and the drawer will slide outwardlyby gravity through the open bottom and 14 of the casing until it strikesagainst the flange 12.

In opening the drawer therefore, the authorized person who is inpossession or a magnetic key 23, simply inserts this key withinthechannel 26, draws it outwardly against the rib 27 to properlyposition it with respect to the-latch 21,

pushes the drawer l7 upwardly and upon then releasing the drawer itimmediately falls open so that the contents thereof maybe removed.

After removal of the contents of the drawer,

if desired, it may be so mounted upon the doorframe that the slots 15and 23 face the door and are therefore rendered inaccessible to anyexcept those within the house, as when the door is closed these slotswould be covered. thereby and in this case the key 34 would obviouslyhave to be inserted into the channel 26 from the opposite end thereof tothat shown in full lines and as shown in broken lines in Figure 2 inwhich a portion only of the key 34 being inserted from the opposite end,is indicatedi The procedure therefore, in. openingthe cone tainer,consists merely of insertingthe magnetic key 34 into its properposition, which isginsured by the peculiar form of the key and the rib27 and then pushing the drawer upwardly upon release of which it fallsopen. The closing of the drawer is accomplished by simply removing thekey 34 or pushing it further into the-channel 26, so that its inner endis not in proper position for retainthe latch 12 raised, then'pushingthe drawer upwardly past its normal locked position and finallyreleasing it when it will fall slightlyand be retained in its lockedposition. I

In inserting the key 34 from the left hand side, as shown in dottedlines in Figure 2, either a raised rib 27 would be provided at theleft-hand end of the channel 26 or the key would be made so that itwould simply strike against the end of the rib 27 as shown, theimportant feature being that there is within the channel 26 theprovisionof means co-acting with the key whereby the end of the is accuratelypositioned in its desired location with respect to'the latch 21.

The mechanism is such that there is provided gravity controlled meansfor normally locking the drawer within the casing and magneticallycontrolled means for rendering the gravity locking.

means drawer.

As an'additional precaution. against the un-- authorized opening of thecontainer, there may be combined therewith the audible electric signaldevice shown in Figure 5 in which the insulated contact terminals 29 andare provided within the key channel 26 so that when the key 34 isinserted in o its opening position therein, it bridges these contactsand closes the electriccircuit to sound the bell 32. This electriccircuit could be the ordinary door bell circuit so that, when the key04: is inserted by the authorized part ,the door hell would ringnotifying the occupants of the house that the container was beingemptied. This would be a still further protection against unauthorizedopening in that, should any unauthorized person insert a metal key in aninoperative to permit opening of the attempt to open the container thebell would sound. In fact the provision of this alarm circuit within thecontainer would provide a positive means of-notifying the occupants ofthe house whenever the container was being opened or of:

any attempt to open it.

The modified embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 6, 7, 8and 9 is the same in principle as that already described butis ofsomewhat different detail mechanical construction. In this case the body10' is the same as that already described and also the casing'13 isidenti-- cal with the casing '13 of the former form and has an openbottom end 14' in which is mounted a drawer 37. This drawer 37 is formedadjacent to'its upper end with an inturned portion 38 which-forms acatch adjacentto the upper end of the drawer, which catch is inthe formof a downturned curved shouldenas shown-in Figure '7.

Extending across the casing 13, adjacent to its upper end, is a bar orrod 39 and upon this bar is pivotally mounted alatch40, which latchcomprises lower arm 41 and an upper arm 42, the.

entire latch or at least the upper arm .42 being of magnetic material;This latch 40 is normally urged by gravity downwardly to the positionshown in fulllines in Figure 7, in which the hooked end 43 of the lowerarm 41 is adapted to operatively engage with the catch 38 formed uponthe drawer and to. retain the drawer in its closed, locked position.

Also pivotally mounted upon the bar 39 are two further latches 44, eachof which is formed at its tickets, coins or other articles, ispermitted. The;

shown in Figures 8 and 9,'which device comprises a metal casing 46 openat its bottom endand pro vided along one edge with a downturned flange49, the purpose of which will presently appear; Suspended within thiscasing 48 by means of an adjusting screw 50, is a horseshoe magnet 51and it will be clear that the position of this magnet within the casingmay be adjusted as desired, by. means of the screw 50 which permits ofthe magnet being raised or lowered within the casing;

In. using this modification the procedure is ractically the same as thatpreviously described. in that the device would be mounted against a doorframe or other suitable surface .so that the base 10 is secured theretoby'nails orfscrews extending through the orifices 52 and this base 10would of course, necessarily be vertical.

Whenthe drawer 37 is in its closed position within the casingyunder theaction of gravity the latch 40 normally falls to its lower position asshown in .full lines in Figure? so that the hooked lower end 43 thereofengages with the catch 33 of the drawer to retain the drawer locked inthis closed position; In'order to open the container the authorizedparty, who is in possession of the magnetic opening device 48, simplyplaces this device upon the top of the casing 13, the depending flange49 by engagement with the side of the casing13 forming a ion 7 means foraccurately positioning the magnetic device 48 in its proper locationwith respect to the casing.

The position of the magnet 51 within the casing is accurately adjustedso that it will exert the proper degree of magnetic pull upon the upperarm 42 of the latch 40 and when placed in opening position, due to theattraction of the magnet, the latch 40 will be oscillated upwardly intoits raised position,shown in broken lines in Figure 7, in which positionthe arm 42 strikes against the upper end of the casing and the hook 43of the lower arm 41 is disengaged from the catch 38 of the drawer, sothat the drawer falls open through the open bottom end 14 of the casing,permitting removal of the contents therefrom.

Upon the drawer being subsequently inserted and pushed upwardly into thecasing 13 and the magnetic opening device 48 being removed, when thedrawer reaches its fully closed position the hook 43 of the latch 40again engages beneath the catch 38 of the drawer and retains the drawerin its locked position.

As a further safety precaution and in order to prevent unauthorizedopening of the drawer, the additional latches 44 are provided, whichlatches are also'of magnetic material and are each located under one legof the horseshoe If the magnet 51 is not properly as if too great a pullis exerted the drawer will not only be unlocked but will be againimmediately locked and therefore, it will be necessary that in order toopen the drawer, a person be in possession of a properly adjustedmagnetic opening device.

As previously stated the invention has been particularly described inreference to containers suitable for use in the collection of milktickets and the like, but by varying the shape and size thereof, itcould, of course, be made suitable for the collection of practically anycommodity.

In the drawings, while two specific forms in which the catch at theupper end of the drawer and the latch cooperating therewith may beprovided, this catch and latch may be provided in various other ways andforms and the scope of the present invention includes all suitableequivalent ways and forms in which this catch and latch may be providedand is not limited in any way to the specific constructions illustrated.

In certain applications of the improved apparatus it may be desirable tomake the slot through which the coins or tickets are to be inserted intothe container, of sufficient size to permit the fingers tobe insertedthereinto, so that the contents of the container may be thus withdrawn.

Thisfeature may be desirable where the device is used for. thecollection of milk tickets when it may be desirable to enable thehousewife to have access through this slot to the contents of thecontainer so that she may be able to get change out for money inserted.

In this case, however, it would be necessary that the container be somounted that this slot faces the door so as to be thereby renderedinaccessible when the door is closed and to be only accessible to thosewithin the house when the door is open, as previously explained.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the invention provides animproved container of the type described whereby the objects set forthhave been attained. I

Various modifications may be made in this invention without departingfrom the spirit thereof or the scope of the claims, and therefore theexact forms shown are to be taken as illustrative only and not in alimiting sense, and it is desired that only such limitations shall beplaced thereon as are disclosed in the prior art or are set forth in theaccompanying claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. Locking mechanism for containers having a slida-ble drawer comprisinglatch means for locking the drawer within the container, said latchmeans having at least a portion thereof formed from magnetic material,the latch means being swingably mounted within the casing and formedwith a projection normally to engage a member on the drawer, a magneticmember for releasing said latch means and means in connection with saidmagnetic member coacting with said container for accurately positioningsaid member in latch-releasing position.

2. Locking mechanism for containers having a slidable drawer comprisinglatch means for locking the drawer within the container, said latchmeans having at least a member associated therewith formed from magneticmaterial, a magnetic member for releasing said latch means and auxiliarylatch means operable in conjunction with a magnetic member of greaterstrength than that required to operate the first mentioned latch means.

3. Locking mechanism for containers having a slidable drawer comprisinglatch means for locking the drawer within the container, said latchmeans having at-least a portion of magnetic material, a magnetic memberfor releasing said latch means, means in connection with said memberco-acting with said container for accurately positioning said member inlatchreleasing position, and auxiliary latch means operable inconnection with a magnetic member of greater strength than that requiredto operate the first mentioned latch means. I

DANIEL JAMES SLATTERY.

